Chapter 568: Not Easy
Chapter 568: Not Easy
late at night.
"I haven't been to the black market for a while." Li Kailang woke up slowly, packed up and quietly went out.
This time when he went out, Li Kailang did not dress up in disguise, but went to the black market directly in his original attire.
This time I went to the black market just to take a look and I didn't plan to buy anything. It didn't matter if I was seen by others. There was no need to disguise myself.
Soon, they arrived at the nearest black market in Dongxiao City.
"There are not enough people here." Li Kailang looked at the crowd in front of him which had become much thinner. It wasn't crowded before, but it wasn't so few either.
People walked and stopped, looked here and there, squatted down to ask the price and look at the items, but not many people paid to buy them.
I think it’s because the autumn harvest is approaching, so fewer people come here.
Li Kailang didn't care much: "I'll go to where I should go first and see if they are waiting for me."
Just after taking two steps, Li Kailang slapped his head and said, "Remember the errand. Dalong and the others are in Beixiao City. What is going on in Guandongxiao City? I haven't been here for so long that I have mixed it up."
The old men and those who sell Kung Fu secrets are all in Beixiao City, but there are not many people in Dongxiao City.
If there are people who can come, it would be Su Daqiang and his group, but they are busy with the autumn harvest and have no time to come.
Their lives have improved a lot, but they still haven't forgotten their farm work.
"Let's see if there are any good things." Li Kailang started strolling in the black market, looking around.
"Boss, give me 5 kilograms of coarse grains."
"It's just 5 jin, don't you want more?"
"These are enough. They will only last for three to five days. It's almost harvest time and there's no point in having so many."
"Yes, the autumn harvest is fresh, these grains."
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood that he meant that the food was not fresh.
Although whole grains have a long shelf life, people still prefer fresh ones.
"7 yuan."
The grain merchant handed over the weighed grain, and his voice couldn't help but become a little flattering. He also wanted to sell all the grain in his hands as soon as possible.
As the autumn harvest approaches, the price of grain has also plummeted. Previously, the price of grain was more than 2 yuan per pound, but now it is about 3 yuan.
"Boss, give me 5 kilograms too."
Suddenly, Li Kailang heard a familiar voice and looked in the direction of the sound.
"Bai Xiuwen?" It was too dark to see clearly, and Li Kailang was not sure, so he walked over to take a look.
"It's really you."
Bai Xiuwen was startled by the sudden appearance of Li Kailang: "Why are you here?"
"Of course I came to take a look. Why are you here to buy food as well?"
Bai Xiuwen nodded: "Yes, the food at home is not enough. My sister is growing up and needs to be well fed."
It’s good enough to be able to eat enough, but as for eating well, forget it.
"Boss, please give him more, another 5 kilograms, to make a total of 10 kilograms."
The grain merchant looked at Bai Xiuwen and only started to weigh the grain when he saw him nod.
Bai Xiuwen didn't understand why Li Kailang said that, but since he said that, there must be a reason for it.
"14 yuan."
Bai Xiuwen took out money and food, then left with Li Kailang.
Li Kailang then explained: "Although it is close to the autumn harvest and a batch of new grain will be brought into the city, the old grain must be consumed first before the new grain can be used."
Bai Xiuwen nodded. Everyone understood this principle.
"I've seen the farmland in the countryside. This year's harvest is still not very good. We are all waiting for the autumn harvest, but there is only so much food, no matter whether it is new or old."
"While food is cheap now, let's store some first, so that we don't go hungry again when the rations are cut next year."
Bai Xiuwen was naturally convinced by Li Kailang's words: "I'll go buy some more now."
"Then there's no need to be so anxious. Just come more often later."
"Okay then." He would listen to whatever Li Kailang said. Anyway, Li Kailang would not harm him.
Li Kailang did not mention that he would help Bai Xiuwen buy food. He is different now than before. He can be self-reliant and does not need much help from others.
Speaking of this, I have to mention the 500 yuan debt. After 6 months of repayments, each time more than the last, I have now paid back 127 yuan of the principal.
It comes down to about 21 yuan a month, plus 1 yuan in interest. You should know that Bai Xiuwen's basic salary is only 22 yuan.
Although Bai Xiuwen used his basic salary to pay off his debts directly, he was still able to save more than ten yuan every month, which shows his ability to make money.
Bai Xiuwen had the confidence to pay back so much money because he had four big items in his home: a pendulum clock, a watch, a radio, and a bicycle.
If I grit my teeth and sell them all, maybe I can pay off the debt. Remember, it's only been half a year.
It is hard to imagine that this person is a refugee. What Li Kailang said at the beginning that the debt would be repaid within 2 years was too little. Maybe he can pay it off in 1 year.
Regarding the strong family background that Bai Xiuwen had built in just half a year, Li Kailang could only say: "Awesome!"
If Yan Jiecheng knew that Bai Xiuwen had achieved his current status thanks to his work at the scrap yard, he would have fallen to his knees and howled to the sky.
"Do not!!!"
Maybe God was moved by his grievances and sent it snowing in September.
The two chatted on the way back.
"Xiao Baichi is in school now. Can you finally relax now?"
Bai Xiuwen nodded: "Yes, she has finally made it. Now that she is in school, I don't have to worry about her getting into trouble in the yard."
When Bai Chi was in the yard, he would always intentionally pass by the yard to see how Bai Chi was doing.
Now that I’m in school, I don’t have to worry so much because there are students and teachers to take care of me.
If you get bullied, there are Yan Jiefang and Liu Guangtian to help you vent your anger. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Bai Xiuwen sighed again: "No, I still have to teach her to read and write. I'm busy again."
"I heard that this has nothing to do with you. Xu Sinan is helping to teach. What are you busy with?"
"Oh, really? I remembered it wrongly." Bai Xiuwen said without blushing or beating his heart.
Li Kailang saw that he acted so matter-of-factly and made a vague guess.
"Damn it, you dare to steal my food, I don't want to live anymore."
"Let go! Let go!"
Just as I was leaving the black market, I saw a burly man punching and kicking the person who grabbed his trouser leg.
"Brother, please be kind. I have elderly parents and young children to take care of. I really have no food at home. I didn't mean to steal it."
"If there's no more food at home, I'll starve to death. Big brother, please help me!"
The old man grabbed his trouser legs and kowtowed for mercy.
This old man could rob anyone else, but he deserves to be beaten for stealing from this rough guy.
Or maybe, the reason why he only robbed the rough man was that his life was good and a little less food was not a big deal.
"Help you? Bah! What the hell, you want me to help you? I don't even know you, how can I help you?"
"I'm helping you, whoever helps me, let go!"
The old man held on to the grain bag tightly and refused to let go. It was not bad to exchange a beating for food.
"Let's go." Neither of them felt any sympathy. The old man was exchanging his body for food, so there was nothing to say.
"Let go! If you don't let go, don't blame me for being rude!" the burly man shouted.
Seeing that the old man was reluctant to let go, he lifted up his clothes and pulled out a hatchet from his back.
"Brother, please be kind! I really had no choice but to rob this food. My family depends on this food to survive!"
Even when the rough man drew his knife, the old man held the rough man's legs without flinching.
"Damn it, you have no shame!" The rough man paid no attention to the old man's kind words and raised his knife to kill him. The old man closed his eyes in fear, but he didn't let go.
Seeing this, neither of them could stand by and watch the man die.
"stop!"
"You little bastard, this is none of your business, get out of here!"
Since there were people around, the burly man was not afraid at all and still raised his knife.
Judging from the situation, the rude man is determined to kill the old man.
"Stop, I've bought your food." Li Kailang said hurriedly.
"You want to buy? Everyone can say good things, but why don't you pay for it!" the burly man shouted.
"It's not easy for everyone. I'll pay whatever the cost is." As he said that, Li Kailang took money out of his pocket.
"I have 20 jin of food, no more, no less, for 33 yuan."
"Okay, I'll go ahead." Li Kailang directly took out four big black tens.
"The extra ones are for you."
"Okay, I'm shortsighted. I really let you run into two brave men who stand up for injustice. If you dare to rob me again next time, don't blame me for killing you."
"Let go." The burly man kicked.
The old man then hurriedly let go of his hands and let the rough man leave.
The old man still hasn't recovered from his shock. He can't believe the situation before him. He really has met a hero who stands up for justice.
He was already prepared to bleed.
"Uncle, are you okay?"
"Benefactor, benefactor!" The old man knelt down in front of the two men.
The two men were so frightened that they immediately pulled the old man up and said, "Oh, no, no, no, uncle, you are going to shorten our lives."
The old man waved his hands in panic and explained: "No, no, I didn't mean that."
"We know you don't mean that. You don't have to kneel before us."
The old man refused to let go even until his death, which shows that his family was really in urgent need of food.
Li Kailang took out another 3050 yuan and gave it to the old man: "Uncle, this is not much money, you take it."
"No, you can't take it!" The old man immediately pushed his hand back: "It's enough that my benefactor can buy food for me, but I can't let my benefactor spend money again."
Li Kailang grabbed the old man's hand and said, "Take it. This money is not much for me. If you take this money, your family will live better. It's not easy for everyone."
Forcing elderly people to come out and grab food shows that the family is really in trouble, otherwise it is more than that.
50 yuan, considering the 30 kilograms of food the old man stole, should be enough for their family to survive for two months.
"Here, this." The old man looked at the money in his hand, then at the food at his feet, not knowing what to say.
"Okay, it's getting late, let's go back early." Li Kailang patted the old man on the shoulder and left with Bai Xiuwen.
Without paying any attention to the old man behind them who was in tears, the two continued chatting, not being affected by the old man at all.
Sijiu City is so big that Li Kailang can’t help everyone. He can only help if he can.
Not long after, the two finally reached the yard.
"Stop! What are you two doing!"
Suddenly, a beam of light shone straight over here.
Bai Xiuwen couldn't open his eyes due to the sudden bright light, but Li Kailang could see the figure in front of him clearly and hurriedly reminded him in a low voice.
"Be careful, it's the police."
Bai Xiuwen was so scared that he immediately put the grain bag behind him to block it, but it was too late. The police saw it clearly.
The police only needed to take one look at the bag to know how heavy it was and what was inside.
He put the flashlight down and slowly took a puff of the cigarette he was holding. It seemed that he had just lit it when he met two people.
"You dare to stay outside instead of going home to sleep at night. If it were in the past, you two would have been shot."
Hearing the policeman's joke, Li Kailang quickly responded: "Yes, yes, isn't this a new society? We are brave enough to give it a try."
"Give it a try? You're so brave. Now go back to sleep."
"Yes, let's go now."
Knowing that it was food, the police did not make things difficult for them. They knew where it came from. Instead of making things difficult for these civilians, it would be better to arrest people in the black market. It is not easy for everyone.
After giving a warning, the policeman left while smoking a cigarette.
"Phew~ Fortunately I didn't see it." Bai Xiuwen felt relieved.
"Who said he didn't see it? The policeman saw it a long time ago, but he didn't care." Li Kailang was also glad that nothing happened.
"Ah? Then why didn't he arrest us?"
"Who knows? Do you want to be caught?"
Bai Xiuwen shook his head repeatedly. If he was caught, there would be no one to take care of Bai Chi.
"Okay, go back quickly."
Bai Xiuwen picked up the grain bag and immediately followed Li Kailang.
The two finally came to the outside of the yard. Li Kailang looked at Bai Xiuwen: "How did you get out?"
Bai Xiuwen didn't understand what this meant, and pointed at the gate: "I walked out of the gate?"
"You didn't lock the door?"
"No." Bai Xiuwen pushed the door gently as a matter of course.
squeak~
The gate slowly opened.
"Huh?" Li Kailang was immediately confused: "This shouldn't be the case. Usually the third uncle locks the door. Why did you come out?"
Bai Xiuwen took it for granted: "That's how I walked out. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"What a coincidence that you happened to meet someone going out. Someone must be about to go out."
The courtyard gate is usually locked by Yan Bugui, but if someone wants to go out, they will tell Yan Bugui and the door will only be closed, not locked.
Of course, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong can also unlock the door, but it is rare.
Bai Xiuwen asked back: "Then how did you get out?"
"Of course I crawled out." Li Kailang immediately changed his words. He couldn't say anything nonsense.
"Okay, let's go in quickly." Li Kailang pushed Bai Xiuwen in. Maybe someone was going out tonight.
Bai Xiuwen happened to go out as well, and left the house right after him.
As soon as the two of them left, someone came in quietly.
"It's not easy, it's not easy." Liu Haizhong came back closely behind, holding a piece of meat in his hand, which weighed at least half a pound.
"I just don't believe that I can't take you two little bastards down with this meat. You two are so greedy. You dare to run to someone else's house to eat and go against me. Don't you even know who I am?"
Liu Haizhong quietly returned home carrying the meat and saw the two brothers sleeping in the living room.
Originally the two brothers were sleeping well in the bedroom, but Liu Haizhong wouldn't let them sleep well and made them sleep directly in the living room, letting them relive the treatment they had received in the past.
Naturally, the two of them were angry but dared not say anything.
Naturally, Liu Haizhong's actions made the two of them hate him even more and were even more angry at Liu Guangqi.
"Even if I have the meat, I still can't catch you two little bastards."
Liu Haizhong put the meat in front of the two men's noses, circled it, and let them smell it.
"I'll make fried eggs tomorrow morning, and add some meat. You two little rabbits will be so hungry. You dare to fight me? Don't you know who is the head of the family?"
"Xiang is confused, it's not easy, this meat is really not easy to buy."
Liu Haizhong couldn't help but feel distressed, as he spent a lot of money to buy this half pound of meat.
(End of this chapter)